Who is Yoriichi Tsugikuni from Demon Slayer?

Yoriichi Tsugikuni is one of the main supporting characters of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. He is the most famous demon hunter who existed nearly 500 years ago in Sengoku, the golden age of Oni hunters.

Being the founder of the breathing styles and also the one who invented the Sun Breathing. Having as a brother Michikatsu Tsugikuni, who later became an Oni named Kokushibo, who ended up joining the Twelve Kizuki, occupying the position of Upper Moon 1.

Do you know all the characters from Kimetsu no Yaiba? We recommend reading an article about the meanings of the names of Demon Slayer characters.

Yoriichi’s Story

When he was still a child, the series showed that he idolized his twin brother, Michikatsu, encouraging his brother to pursue his dream of being the “Strongest Samurai in the World“, but soon in the future, it was Yoriichi who achieved that status.

60 years later, Yoriichi met his brother, but he had become an Oni because he feared death. Yoriichi was completely devastated and felt pity for his brother for what he had become, especially when Yoriichi fought against him.

Despite his brother’s betrayal, Yoriichi still had good memories with him. At 85 years old, he had his last fight against his twin brother. And despite his extreme age and apparent blindness, he gained a quick advantage in the fight with just a single move, cutting his throat before dying without taking a single hit.

Kokushibo himself admitted that if Yoriichi had delivered the second blow before dying, he would have defeated his brother.

Yoriichi’s Powers

Yoriichi is undoubtedly the strongest character known throughout the history of Demon Slayer, as well as the most powerful swordsman and Demon Slayer, having been born with the Demon Slayer Mark and able to access the Transparent World.

Alone, Yoriichi was able to corner Muzan Kibutsuji and left him on the brink of death, but he managed to escape. Yoriichi was so powerful that just uttering his name was enough to make Muzan, the King of Demons, tremble in fear.

Carmine Red Nichirin Blade: Yoriichi was the first person capable of transforming his Nichirin Blade into Carmine Red. During combat, Yoriichi could dye his black sword red at will, allowing him to hinder the enhanced regeneration of Demons, even Muzan’s nearly absolute regeneration, in such a way that leaves the damage permanently burned into their cells without being able to heal!

Transparent World: Yoriichi has the ability to use the Transparent World since his birth, which makes him suspect that he was gifted with the ability to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, as this ability counters his advantage of having multiple organs, since Yoriichi can perceive them and target them to kill them easily.

Demon Slayer Mark: Yoriichi is the progenitor of the Demon Slayer Mark. A special mark that appears on strong Demon Slayers. Its specific abilities are unknown, but it extraordinarily enhances the users’ abilities, increasing their strength and speed with a much faster reaction than normal.

The Sun Breathing

It was the first breathing of all, created by Yoriichi himself. Eventually, this would be called Hinokami Kagura or Dance of the God of Fire. Water Breathing and all the others, for example, derive from the Sun Breathing, which can be called the “original”.

Using this breathing, Yoriichi could perform 13 movements. Check them out below:

1. Enbu – [円舞えんぶ] – Dance;
2. Hekira no ten – [碧羅の天へきらのてん] – Clear Blue Sky;
3. Reshijitsu koukyou – [烈日紅鏡れつじつこうきょう] – Furious Sun;
4. Gennichikou – [幻日虹げんにちこう] – False Rainbow;
5. Kasha – [火車かしゃ] – Fire Wheel;
6. Shakkotsu enyou – [灼骨炎陽しゃっこつえんよう] – Burning Bones, Summer Sun;
7. Youkatotsu – [陽華突ようかとつ] – Sunflower Impulse;
8. Hirin kagerou – [飛輪陽炎ひりんかげろう] – Solar Heat Haze;
9. Shayou tenshin – [斜陽転身しゃようてんしん] – Sunset Transformation;
10. Kiki onkou – [輝輝恩光ききおんこう] – Beneficent Radiance;
11. Nichiun no ryuu kaburimai – [日暈の龍・頭舞いにちうんのりゅう かぶりまい] – Dance of the Solar Dragon Halo;
12. Enbu – [炎舞えんぶ] – Dance;